Cortisol is essential for survival. The importance of cortisol response is most apparent in patients with partial or complete deficiency of glucocorticoids during stressful events such as illness or surgery.

On the day of the procedure a total of 4 venous blood samples for random plasma cortisol level will be obtained. Blood will be drawn at 5 minutes prior to the procedure, at 30 minutes and 60 minutes during the cardiac catheterization. Another sample will be drawn in 3 hours after cardiac catheterization prior to the patients discharge. a cortisol level will be drawn at a "nonstressful" visit

It is known that cortisol and other stress hormones increase during acute myocardial infarction as well (9-11). Cardiac catheterization is an essential tool for the management of acute coronary syndrome, and for the evaluation of the burden of coronary artery disease in cardiac patients.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

20 Years to 90 Years (Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Sampling Method:

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

30 males and females, age 20-90 years who are scheduled for elective cardiac catheterization procedure.

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients undergoing elective cardiac catheterization, who are willing and able to give consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with .primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency.

Patients taking steroids in the doses equivalent of at least 5 mg of prednisone daily for more than 3 weeks in the previous year.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01822847